Miracles Got Us Here

 

Greg and I always wanted to serve a Senior Mission, but the time never seemed right.
Besides leaving a big family is hard! We have two sons who are unmarried. Two boys who are unemployed and looking frantically for work to support their families. Three grandchildren to be baptized. And there will probably be some new arrivals in the next eighteen months.
How could we leave??? 

Some of my children were even adamant that we shouldn't go. But when Greg decided to at last retire, we both knew it was time. Then we started the arduous task of getting our medical work in. If your numbers were within normal limits, it was an easy physical, but we both had issues that needed additional tests. Bummer. Months later, we at last passed.
The interview with our bishop was very detailed. But our stake president only asked a few questions. He turned to Greg and said, "What do you like about your wife?"
Greg said that he felt I did a good job of teaching my children the gospel.
Then the Stake President asked me what I liked about Greg. "His righteous heart. He wants to please God more than anything."

And then came the clincher... the Stake President asked GREG where he would like to go. Because we both went on our missions to London and London South respectively, he boldly answered "LONDON!"
I meekly mentioned that we'd serve anywhere, but stateside would allow us to return for important family events. I don't think I was heard because a few weeks later, we opened our call... LONDON!

(Since then we found out the UK is one of the most requested places and we were very privileged to get this call.)
BUT I was still worried about going so far away. My brother-in-law, Emron Pratt, told me to start a missionary miracle journal because he said I would see miracles now that I had gotten my call.
Soon after that we got together for a family baby blessing. My daughter came all the way from Arkansas to Idaho with four small children for the event and brought the flu. Their oldest daughter received a blessing that she would be well enough to come. She was the only one who's fever broke and attended. It was a mini-miracle, but the rest of the family was terribly sick in their room for another two days. Then I got sick too. Their whole visit was miserable.

When my daughter left, she took my dog, Nillie. Although it may seem silly to some, that was rough. (Ruff!) I've heard some people don't go on missions because they don't want to leave their pets. While I understand the sentiment, my dog is as happy as a clam. She loves children and is doing well. I'm the only one struggling.

London is also a very expensive mission. Although we were mortgage free, we spent a lot to make our home livable and incurred some debt. We have been aggressively paying it off, but on a fixed income it would be tight. Another mini-miracle, a family member offered to help us, and we sold our RV to finish paying off everything. We are going debt-free!

Right before our missionary farewell, the biggest miracle happened. Both boys got job offers the same day! Blessings! And they are great jobs. Also, we spent a lovely day in the temple with my unmarried sons, and I felt PEACE. about our decision. That was best miracle of all! All my children have jobs, and they are all temple worthy. I now knew I could go without concern.

So today we officially arrived at the MTC. We took our iconic picture at the map and have been assigned to a district. We begin classes tomorrow. All is well, and we are HERE with peace. That is the real miracle.